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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Julius Caesar – Act II

Brutus
received one of the false letters (originally written by Cassius, as if sent
from the people).

In his
monolog, Brutus decided that if Caesar was to endanger Rome, then it is his
duty to protect Romans and kill Caesar, even though he did not have any bad
feeling towards him.

The faction
of conspirator visited Brutus: Cassius, Casca, Cinna, Desius, Metellus Cimber,
Trebonius; and sealed the commitment. Cassius suggested that they made an oath,
but Brutus believed that noblemen of Rome had the responsibilities in their
heart, thus did not need to make oath.

Desius got a
special task to convince Caesar to come to the Senate (despite of the bad
weather).

Portia worried
about his husband and demanded him to share the secret he had burdened with.

Ligarius (recommended
by Metellus earlier) came in sick, but ready to be lead to action by Brutus.

Notes:

* I begin to
like the noble Brutus, especially on this….

“But do not stain

The even virtue of our enterprise,

Nor th' insuppressive mettle of our spirits,

To think that or our cause or our
performance

Did need an oath, when every drop of blood

That every Roman bears—and nobly bears—

Is guilty of a several bastardy

If he do break the smallest particle

Of any promise that hath passed from him.”
–l. 329

* Cassius
was the founder of the conspirator faction indeed, but they all instantly keep
Brutus’ opinions as strict commands. About whether they should or should not
invite Cicero to join the faction, for instance:

Cassius: “But what about Cicero? Shall we sound him?”

Casca: “Let
us not leave him out.”

Cinna: “No,
by no means.”

Brutus: “O,
name him not; let us not break with him,

For he will never follow anything

That other men begin.”

Cassius: “Then leave him out.”

Casca: “Indeed
he is not fit.” –l. 338

Oh, so quick
did they change their mind… :)

* Cassius
was eager to kill Mark Antony too, but Brutus rejected the idea; Cassius just
acted practical, and Brutus was being noble. But sometimes….politics need the
practical way...

“We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar,

And in the spirit of men there is no blood.”

* Portia and
Brutus was a sweet couple, they respected each other. On that era women was not
at the same level as men, but Portia didn’t think like that. For her, a wife
should share his husband’s business and the husband should trust her husband,
or otherwise she was not wife at all, but merely lover.

“Within the bond of marriage, tell me,
Brutus,

Is it excepted I should know no secrets

That appertain to you? Am I yourself

But, as it were, in sort or limitation,

To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,

And talk to you sometimes?

Dwell I but in the suburbs

Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,

Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.”
–l. 387

And how about
this?

“I have made strong proof of my constancy,

Giving myself a voluntary wound

Here in the thigh. Can I bear that with
patience,

And not my husband’s secrets?” –l. 394

Did she
really wound her thigh there in the scene? Or she had done it before, and was now
showing the wound? (there’s no sign of action here, or have I missed it?)

And Brutus
did not scowl her for putting herself at the same level as him, he respected
her even more as a ‘noble’ wife. What a husband!

* Ligarius
sickness was intriguing, as if symbolizing Romans situation in general under
Caesar tyranny. More interesting was this dialog, which implicitly represented
their plan to kill Caesar:

Ligarius: “What’s to do?”

Brutus: “A
piece of work that will make sick men whole.”

Ligarius: “But are not some whole that we must make
sick?” –l. 400. Ahemm…

Scene II – Caesar’s House. Thunder and
Lightning

Caesar had been woken
by Calpurnia’s screams in her dream. Calpurnia begged Caesar not to go to the
Senate that day as she had a nightmare that Caesar would be killed. This was
confirmed too by the priests (augurers).

Superstitious
did not move Caesar’s plan at first, but he melted down at Calpurnia’s beg, and
cancelled his visit to the Senate.

Desius came
and reminded Caesar that the Senate was going to crown him, thus they will
laughed at him if he did not dare to come just because of his wife’s nightmare.
At this, Caesar decided to go.